There was no Luca in view and it made me think of the dream.

I held on to the 23 year old’s hand tighter before I pulled the gun out and walked in, pointing it at the empty hallway save for a broken vase. I pulled the brunette with me carefully; I could feel her hands shaking but I couldn’t risk leaving her somewhere as I eyed the area and couldn’t identify any movement.

Stepped over broken objects on the wooden tiles, Carmen followed my lead and I took a cautious step into my bedroom, the door left wide open.

The latina was next to me when I noticed sounds of clothes ruffling and spun to my left gun against skin. Only to find Luca with a hand over Carmen’s mouth whose eyes widened and I sighed in relief.

We moved behind the door slowly, quietly and Luca released her.

“What happened?” I hissed.

Carmen looked from Luca to me, fear apparent in her eyes.

“Apparently they want my head too” he whispered sarcastically.

I pulled my mate to the side, gripping my gun tighter.

“Keep her safe” I told him.

He nodded solemnly and I squeezed his shoulder once before I turned back to Carmen. I stared into her eyes, but didn’t dare say anything and broke eye contact, moving for the door.

“Where are you going?” she had a desperate grip on my arm.

Images of Luca on the floor bleeding from the chest and Morales pointing a gun at Carmen’s head filled my mind.

If anything, they deserved to live.

I didn’t.

“I’ll come back for you” I said.

Would I?

Why did I bring Carmen with me? Oh right, because I thought I could keep her safe and hatch some sort of genius idea that already backfired in my face before I even planned it. I moved silently across the hallway to Luca’s room and just when I reached the door, the gun was slapped away from my hand and on reflex I slid down onto the floor and retrieved a knife from my ankle.

It landed in his throat as his blood sprayed over his chest and under his chin, painting him red. Spotting another pair of shoes behind him I got to my feet and pulled the man in front of me just as a gunshot went off, hitting the dead body in front of me.

I slid another blade from my ankle and waited for my chance as I backed out from the room.

Think Shane, think.

My gun was still on the floor in front of me and my mouth formed a thin line as I pushed the body at my enemy and then hurled the knife at him, hitting him straight between the eyes.

I picked up my gun when I heard light footsteps and spun on my heels, gun ready. Luca was in the exact same position as me, gun pointed at me with Carmen in his arms and we both relaxed as I walked over to them.

“We need a place to stay at” I muttered, not meeting Carmen’s gaze.

She was a little calmer than before though I had to wonder why she hadn’t screamed at the sight of the bodies.

Had I missed something with her?

“Come, I’ve got a place for us” Luca went for the backdoor.

We followed and I hesitantly took the latina’s hand as we ran over to my car and I threw the keys at Luca.

I got into the back with Carmen and took in a deep breath.

“That wasn’t the first time I’ve seen something like that happen” she murmured to me.

“What?” I turned to her.

“My family…they do something along the lines of drugs, I’ve seen people get killed in front of me and I…I’ve done some things I’m not proud of” she explained.